On his return from South Africa Captain Wemyss resolved to raise a troop of Imperial Yeomanry for service in the Boer War. He started a recruiting drive amongst the local men using various methods, advertisng being one. The poster, shown below, higlighted the opportunities available to young men in South Africa, both as settlers and in government service. The Captain appealed to the men of the parish in the name of patriotism, for Empire and country - appeals which were effective for he soon had the necessary number to form his troop. It must be said, however, that perhaps the rates of pay on offer had some influence on recruitment! A miner or agricultural worker at the turn of the century would earn something in the order of £1.50 per week or £140 at todays prices. The table below shows what an enlisted man could earn in the Imperial Yeomanry - food and accommodation provided!
| 1901 | equivalent today - per day & per week | |
| 25p | £23 | £161 |
| 30p | £28 | £196 |
| 35p | £32 | £224 |
| 42.5p | £39 | £273 |
| 45p | £41 | £287 |
The Boer War – Recruiting Poster (R.G.E.Wemyss)
Wanted from Wemyss, men for the Imperial Yeomanry for service in South AfricaAll men joining will be sent to Aldershot, where they will go through a course of instruction, during which period the pay is approximately 1s 7d per diem (~8p) and rations, at the expiration of which they will sail for South Africa.
From the date of embarkation the pay will be as follows:-
And all found.
The term of enlistment is for one year or the expiration of the campaign.
Facilities will be given to those men who wish to join the South African Constabulary
At the expiration of service (which is one year from the date of joining, men can procure a free discharge in South Africa, if they so desire, or will be sent home at the Government’s expense.
A great opportunity for young men.
If a man serves six-months he will be paid a bounty of £5 on his discharge.
As everything is found, 1s (5p) per diem is more than sufficient for pocket money, enabling a man to bank 4s (20p) per diem at home, so that he gets his discharge on his return home, if he has served for say eleven months he will have £72 (£6,600 today) to draw on.
Captain Wemyss of Wemyss will make all necessary arrangements for the men’s comfort, will do everything he can, should they desire to stay out in South Africa to find them billets, will further arrange, if required that a bank at home should draw their pay if they leave it behind, and in the event of their remaining in South Africa, it will be arranged that they can draw it out there through the Standard Bank of South Africa, which has many branches in all parts.
They are great opportunities for young men in South Africa and those serving this short time will be in a better position to procure than those who go out later.
For the strengthening of the Empire, for the good of the country, for the welfare of all, for the patriotism of Wemyss, I ask all Wemyss men to show what they can do and I know to whom I am appealing.
R.G.E. Wemyss of WemyssWemyss Castle, Dec. 24th 1901 |
Source: "Randolph Gordon Erskine Wemyss. An Appreciation", And. S. Cunnigham, Purves & Cunnigham, Leven, James Orr, 74 George Street, Edinburgh, 1909